Magic gems are condensed magic energy and seven out of the eight paths of magic has gems while Blood magic has Blood Slaves. Magic gems are used to fuel rituals, powerful battle spells and in forging magic items. Mages can also used a great number of gems of appropriate type to gain a permanent level in magic (called Empowering)and they can use them in combat to quench fatigue caused by spellcasting. A mage in combat that has a gem that is of same type as one of his magic picks gets a +1 bonus to that magic pick in combat. For example, a Nature 1 mage with one Nature gem would count as a Nature 2 mage while making spells. Only the first such gem per cast counts so a Nature 1 mage with 2 nature gems still counts as Nature 2 mage.
In addition, with battle spells the use of gems reduces fatigue; if N extra gems are consumed during casting, fatigue from the casting is reduced to 1/(N+1) of normal. Battlefield spells which cause at least 100 fatigue all require the use of one gem per 100 fatigue (or need to be cast in a Communion, so the fatigue is shared between multiple mages).
Empowerment
| First level | 50 |
|---|---|
| Second level | 30 |
| Third level | 45 |
| Fourth level | 60 |
| Fifth level | 75 |
| Sixth level | 90 |
| Seventh level | 105 |
| Eight level | 120 |
| Ninth level | 135 |
| Tenth level | 150 |
Through empowerment, gems can also be used to bestow your commanders with a new magic path or increase a existing one. You need gems corresponding to the specific path and the cost is the new level times 15 or 50 for the first level.
Empowerment can only take place at a lab, and it takes a turn. So it must be balanced against not performing another action. Increasing the magic path of your pretender god does not increase your bless level.
Each level of magic adds +1 to research in addition to the effects of Magic or Drain scales. This is true for magic items that boost your magic paths, as well as empowerment. Some commanders such as Sages come with additional increased research ability or have research magically affected by scales such as Ulm's Smiths.
Gem Generators
Sites
Items
- Fever Fetish
- (Const-2 F1N1) diseases wielder and has chance to generate 1 Fire Gem per turn as follows:
- - 25% chance to bring a gem when its wielder has max HP
- - 50% chance when wielder has 1 HP less than max
- - 75% chance with 2 HP less than max
- - 100% chance with 3 or more HP less then max
- Note: Neither shapechangers nor undead ever die of disease, but the fetish still works on them as listed above. Regeneration halts the loss of hp due to disease.
- Clam of Pearls
- (Const-2 W3N1) generates 1 Astral Pearl per turn.
- Blood Stone
- (Const-4 B3E2) +1E and generates 1 Earth Gem per turn.
- Ruby Eye
- (Const-8 F3) generates 1 Water Gem per turn.
Spells
Mother Oak (Alt-5 N5) Costs 50 N gems, generates 10 N gems/turn
Gale Gate (Thaum-8 A5) Costs 60 A gems, generates 20 A gems/turn
Maelstrom (Evoc-8 W6) Costs 80 W gems, generates 15 W, 5S, 3A, 1E, 1D, 1F, 1N gems/turn
Earth Blood Deep Well (Ench-7 E6) Costs 80 E gems, generates 20 E gems/turn
Eternal Pyre (Ench-6 F6) Costs 80 F gems, generates 20 F gems/turn
Well of Misery (Conj-8 D6) Costs 80 D gems, generates 21 D gems/turn and increases tax revenue everywhere by 10%
Stellar Focus (Ench-7 S5) Costs 30 S gems, generates 5 S gems/turn
Wish (Alt-9 S9) Costs 100 S gems. Can wish for 25 gems of all types (no blood slaves) or 250 blood slaves
Arcane Nexus (Ench-9 S8) Costs 150 S gems. Half of all gems used to cast spells and forge magic items are collected by the owner of this enchantment.
Commanders
- Sea King
- 1W gem/turn. (Conj-6 W3) Summons
- Barathrus
- 1E gem/turn. (Conj-8 E5) One of the possible Kings of Elemental Earth summons
- Mother of Rivers
- 2W gems/turn. Pretender
- Great Enchantress
- 1S gem/turn. Pretender
- Arch Druid
- 1N gem/turn. Pretender
- Lady of Springs
- 2W gems/turn. Pretender